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The Crossroad cover art

The Crossroad

By: Mark Donaldson
Narrated by: David Tredinnick
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Publisher's Summary

On 2 September ,2008, in a valley in eastern Afghanistan, Trooper Mark Donaldson made a split-second decision that would change his life.

His display of extraordinary courage that day saw him awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia, making him the first Australian to receive our highest award for bravery in wartime since Keith Payne in 1969.Yet Mark's journey to those crucial moments in Afghanistan was almost as exceptional as the acts that led to his VC. He was a rebellious child and teenager, even before the death of his father - a Vietnam veteran - when Mark and his brother were in their mid-teens. A few years later, their mother disappeared, presumed murdered. Her body has never been found.

Mark's decisions could have easily led him down another path, to a life of self-destructiveness and petty crime. But he chose a different road: the army. It proved to be his salvation and he found himself a natural soldier, progressing unerringly to the SAS, the peak of the Australian military.

From his turbulent early years to the stark realities of combat in the mountains and valleys of Afghanistan, Mark's book is the frank and compelling story of a man who turned his life around by sheer determination and strength of mind.

©2013 Mark Donaldson (P)2014 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

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Brilliant

Loved every minute and did not tune out at any stage. Have listened to this twice and could easily do it a third time.

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12 people found this helpful

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Great story

Excellent true life story of how a troublesome kid becomes a military legend.

The only reason I critically marked the performance down one star was due to the fact that there was a tendency to repeat explanations of the TLAs (Three Letter Acronyms) used. Many are well known in common language and didn't need explanation at all ... but ok explain it once to me. However, once I have been told I don't need to be reminded again. Just a mild annoyance in an otherwise brilliant book.

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7 people found this helpful

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He is a Hero whether he likes it or not

Speaking as a Modern Returned Servicman if I could be a quarter of the man that Mark and his mates are I reckon I'd be doing alright.
To do 1 tour to Afghanistan and come back with not only your body right but more importantly your mind is an extraordinary feat in itself let alone 6 tours.
Even if he didn't realise it at the time he was destined for greatness right from the start.
When listening to his early years I was eager to get to the action part(which is thrilling)but when you get down to the business end about his army life you love it when he looks back on his early years and the things that put him in the direction his ended up taking.
Not to give anything away, but I'm sure that he will get to the bottom of the mystery around his mum.
This is one book that I will definitely listen to more than a couple of times.
Mark, I thank you for your service.

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4 people found this helpful

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out of the 66 books i have downloaded from audible

I rate this one the best of then66 books i have downloaded from audible. I truely recommend it to all young dudes

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3 people found this helpful

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Great story

One of the best I have heard of a great man and great men doing our country proud

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1 person found this helpful

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Fascinating story ... a great read

I couldn't put it down, no nonsense or wasting words. Held my interest from the very first paragraph to the end, thoroughly enjoyable. The narrator was the perfect choice for this book!

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1 person found this helpful

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Briliant Briliant

What did you like most about The Crossroad?

True story that is Inspiering storry from a hodlem to a solger that becam a man. Love the way book line up with storys from other book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Crossroad?

He became inspierd to tranin hard to qualify and swim fully closed in publick swimming pool.

Which character – as performed by David Tredinnick – was your favourite?

Found it inspiering the traditions of tributets.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

He got in.

Any additional comments?

Read his book or lisn to it and all so Peter Crosgroves. Briliant and how he is doing today just makes me relise how the Millitery do not look after the people that looks affter the humenaty in need where ever they may be serving.

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1 person found this helpful

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And amazing story of a true Aussie Hero.

An amazing story of a true Hero. It made mw proud to be an Australian

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Inspiring

What a decent bloke, and inspiring. I hope his talk circuit includes some secondary schools.

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Thank you

Thank you Mark..WOW,what a legend..this is a book I can’t stop listening to..Thank you..

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